East Ayrshire

The Jougs in Kilmaurs in 1900, served as the council chamber for the Burgh of Kilmaurs

East Ayrshire was created in 1996 under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, which replaced Scotland's previous local government structure of upper-tier regions and lower-tier districts with unitary council areas providing all local government services. East Ayrshire covered the combined area of the abolished Kilmarnock and Loudoun and Cumnock and Doon Valley districts, and also took over the functions of the abolished Strathclyde Regional Council within the area.[4] The area's name references its location within the historic county of Ayrshire, which had been abolished for local government purposes in 1975 when Kilmarnock and Loudoun, Cumnock and Doon Valley, and Strathclyde region had been created.[5]

In May 1975, the county council was abolished and its functions were transferred to Strathclyde Regional Council. The county area was divided between four new districts within the two-tier Strathclyde region: Cumnock and Doon Valley, Cunninghame, Kilmarnock and Loudoun and Kyle and Carrick. The Cunninghame district included the Isle of Arran, Great Cumbrae and Little Cumbrae, which had until then been administered as part of the County of Bute.

In April 1996 the two-tier system of regions and districts was abolished and Ayrshire was divided between the unitary council areas of East Ayrshire (covering the area of the former Kilmarnock & Loudoun District and Cumnock & Doon Valley District), North Ayrshire (covering the area of the former Cunninghame District Council) and South Ayrshire (covering the area of the former Kyle and Carrick District). There are many early settlements within East Ayrshire.

The former Kilmarnock and Loudoun District Council was twinned with Sukhumi, Abkhazia. Following a review of such links in 2005, East Ayrshire continues the link as a friendship link.[6]

There are many early settlements within East Ayrshire. The Burns Monument Centre and Dick Institute (both in Kilmarnock) are notable museums and cultural venues.

In 2017, East Ayrshire Council was named as the UK Council of the Year.[7] In 2016, East Ayrshire Council was awarded and recognised for its recycling and resource management.[8]

Kilmarnock is the largest settlement in East Ayrshire with a population of over 46,000 and is home to the HQ for East Ayrshire Council

Kilmarnock is the largest town, followed by Cumnock; other towns are New Cumnock and Stewarton.

Towns and villages

Cumnock is East Ayrshire's second-largest town

• Afton Bridgend
• Auchinleck
• Bonnyton (former village, now an area of Kilmarnock)
• Catrine
• Chapeltoun
• Corsehill
• Craigmalloch
• Cronberry
• Cumnock
• Dalmellington
• Dalrymple
• Darvel
• Drongan
• Dunlop
• Fenwick
• Galston
• Gatehead
• Glenbuck
• Greenholm
• Haugh
• Hurlford
• Kilmarnock
• Kilmaurs
• Knockentiber
• Lugton
• Mauchline
• Moscow
• Muirkirk
• Netherthird
• New Cumnock
• Newmilns
• Ochiltree
• Patna
• Polnessan
• Priestland
• Rankinston
• Riccarton
• Sorn
• Stair
• Stewarton
• Trabboch
• Waterside

Places of interest

Loch Doon in East Ayrshire, near to Carrick

Dumfries House located in Cumnock has developed itself as a major local tourist attraction

Dean Castle, Kilmarnock

• Aiket Castle
• Auchinleck House
• Dalmore House and Estate
• Loch Doon
• Loudoun Castle
• Kilmaurs Place
• Rowallan Castle
• Scottish Industrial Railway Centre
• Sorn Castle
• Stair House
• Dean Castle
• Tam O' Shanter Hone Works, Dalmore
• Robertland House
• Dumfries House

Agriculture contributes a large part to East Ayrshire's economy

Historically the economy of East Ayrshire was dependent on industries such as coal mining, textiles and general manufacturing which largely fell into decline in Scotland during the 1970s and 1980s.[9] Certain parts of East Ayrshire, particularly in the south of the region, such as Auchinleck, Bellsbank and Dalmellington have struggled to recover from the economic hardship caused by the decline and gradual closure of traditional industries, and are supported through various initiatives to try and rejuvenate their economies.[9]

Kilmarnock has seen a gradual decline in manufacturing performance in recent years. In 2009, Diageo, owner of whisky maker Johnnie Walker (which had been founded in Kilmarnock) announced the proposed closure of the bottling plant facility in Hill Street, and in 2012, Diageo closed the facility with the loss of 700 jobs.[10] In December 2015, Kilmarnock was awarded the title of Scotland's Most Improved Town due to efforts towards town regeneration and restoration.[11]

Food and drink as well as local tourism provides a large sum to the economy of East Ayrshire, with visitor attractions such as Dean Castle, Palace Theatre and Dumfries House generating large means of income for the area.[9] In rural communities of the authority, agriculture continues to be the leading sources of employment and economic productivity, particularly in the southern communities of the area.[9] The public sector is the largest employer within the area, with the council and NHS Ayrshire and Arran being significant employers.[9] Kilmarnock is home to the Halo Urban Generation (Kilmarnock) Ltd. company which was founded by Marie Macklin CBE, with a focus on providing opportunities for new businesses within the area,[12] and with an estimated Gross Domestic Product (GDP) revenue of £205 million to the Scottish economy, it supports 1,500 jobs within the area.[12]

The new Ayrshire College campus opened in Kilmarnock in October 2016

East Ayrshire has nine secondary schools, forty-three primary schools, four schools which cater for children with additional support needs, thirty-three early education childhood centres and three children's houses.[13]

Kilmarnock Academy is one of only two schools in the world to have educated two Nobel laureates: Alexander Fleming and John Boyd Orr. Both men attended Kilmarnock Academy when it was located on North Hamilton Street; the school has since relocated to Sutherland Drive.[14][15]

The area's secondary schools include:

Kilmarnock is home to a campus of Ayrshire College, which provides a range of courses to adults as well as school-aged pupils. It is funded by East Ayrshire council and other educational providers. The campus opened in October 2016 in a new, £53 million, building on the site of the Johnnie Walker bottling plant. It superseded the Kilmarnock College building on Holehouse Road.[16]

East Ayrshire Council
Local government with limited devolved powers from the Scottish Parliament
Type
Type	Council of the local authority
Houses	Executive Committee Cabinet
Leadership
Leader	Douglas Reid, SNP since 17 May 2007[17]
Provost	Jim Todd, SNP since 19 May 2022[18]
Chief Executive	Eddie Fraser since January 2021[19]
Structure
Seats	32
SNP	14 / 32
Labour	10 / 32
Conservatives	4 / 32
Independents	3 / 32
The Rubbish Party	1 / 32
Elections
Voting system	Single transferable vote
Last election	5 May 2022
Next election	May 2027
Meeting place
Council Headquarters, London Road, Kilmarnock, KA3 7BU
Website
www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk

The council has been under no overall control since 2007, with the Scottish National Party leading a variety of minority administrations since then. The next election is due in 2027. The council's civic head takes the title of provost. This is a largely ceremonial role, chairing council meetings and acting as the area's first citizen. Although an elected councillor, the provost is expected to be politically impartial.[18] Political leadership is provided by the leader of the council, who has been Douglas Reid of the SNP since 2007.

The council's chief executive is Eddie Fraser, who took on the role in January 2021.[20]

Wards

Map of 2017 election results

Since 2017 the area has divided into nine multi-member wards returning 32 members:[25][29][30][31]

• Annick (4 seats)
• Kilmarnock North (3 seats)
• Kilmarnock West and Crosshouse (4 seats)
• Kilmarnock East and Hurlford (4 seats)
• Kilmarnock South (3 seats)
• Irvine Valley (3 seats)
• Ballochmyle (4 seats)
• Cumnock and New Cumnock (4 seats)
• Doon Valley (3 seats)

• East Ayrshire Council
• East Ayrshire at Curlie